Pattern mechanism for circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Jack selector means for controlling the operation of the needles of a multi-feed circular knitting machine to form design stitch patterns in tubular fabrics knitted on the machine, the selector means including a selector device at each feed having selector levers for selectively operating the jacks at the feed and a trick drum for controlling the operation of the selector levers, common means for operating the selector devices at a pair of the feeds, means for controlling the operation of the common means, a single control drum for controlling the active positions of the selector levers of the selector devices at the pair of feeds and means for controlling the operation of the single control drum. The selector devices and associated operating means for the pair of feeds are assembled into a common unit for ready attachment to and removal from the machine and means associated with the trick and control drums permit disengagement from and engagement of the drums with their operating means.

United States Patent Moyer [451 July 11,1972

[54] PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES [72] Inventor: James D. Moyer, Wyomissing, Pa.

[73] Assignee: North American Rockwell Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 75,424

[52] US. Cl ..66/50 B [51] Int. Cl. ..D04b 15/74 [58] Field of Search ..66/5O B, 25, 42, 36 A, 36 B, 66/43, 42 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,164,118 6/ 1939 McAdams ..66/50 B X 3,093,987 6/1963 Zahradra et a1. .....66/50 B X 3,148,518 9/1964 Peel et a]. .6650 B X 3,310,962 3/1967 Mahler ..66/42 2,694,908 1 1/1954 Lawson. 66/50 B 3,250,091 5/ 1966 lmboden .....66/42 A 2,473,944 6/1949 Fregeo1le..... 66/50 B X 3,512,376 5/1970 Eoob et a1 ..66/25 X 3,616,655 11/1971 Guell ..66/50 B Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Anomey.lohn R. Bronaugh, E. Dennis OConnor and Floyd S. Levison ABSTRACT Jack selector means for controlling the operation of the needles of a multi-feed circular knitting machine to form design stitch patterns in tubular fabrics knitted on the machine, the selector means including a selector device at each feed having selector levers for selectively operating the jacks at the feed and a trick drum for controlling the operation of the selector levers, common means for operating the selector devices at a pair of the feeds, means for controlling the operation of the conunon means, a single control drum for controlling the active positions of the selector levers of the selector devices at the pair of feeds and means for controlling the operation of the single control drum. The selector devices and associated operating means for the pair of feeds are assembled into a common unit for ready attachment to and removal from the machine and means associated with the trick and control drums permit disengagement from and engagement of the drums with their operating means.

scum, 1s Drawingiigures PKTE'N'TEDJUL 1 1 1912 SHEET 10F 6 FlE 1 Feed No.4

Feed No. 3

Feed No. I

Feed No. 5

Feed N0. 6

SHEET 2 OF 6 PATTERN MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, circular knitting machines for knitting tubular fabrics such as ladies stockings are provided with means for selecting the needles for operation in forming various design stitch patterns in the stockings, the selecting means including pattern jacks having selector butts at a plurality of levels and pattern devices having selector levers one for acting on the butts at each level, and a trick drum having a controlling pattern for operating the selector levers, the trick drum being operated by indexing means which is controlled from the main cam drum of the machine. The selecting means may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,487, issued Apr. 19, 1966, in which the selector levers act to cancel the raising movements of selected jacks while other jacks are raised by cams to select the needles for operation or may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,552,742, issued May 15, I951, in which the selector levers are provided with cammed noses for acting on the jack butts to raise them to select the needles for operation. The mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,487 also includes a control drum for individually moving the selector levers between active positions for operation by the pattern drum and inactive positions.

Commonly, when changing the operating sequence of the selector levers the pattern elements of the selector lever controlling trick drums are replaced while the drums remain in their operating positions on the machine. This procedure is very often both tedious and time consuming because of other obstructing parts of the machine which make it difficult to work on the drums to make the required patterning changes. In order to facilitate the replacement of the pattern elements in selector lever controlling trick drums and to also facilitate the repair of other operating parts of the machine obstructed by the drums it was proposed to design the selecting means in the form of an assembly that could be readily removed from and replaced inthe machine in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,965, issued Mar. 28, I967. However, while the removal of the selecting assembly from the machine does make it easier to work on the assembly, this procedure is also time consuming inasmuch as the assembly has'to be disconnected and reconnected to numerous operating parts before removal and replacement of the assembly can be effected.

l-Ieretofore, the above noted prior selecting means were only adaptable to select the jacks at each feed of machines having up to four feeds. In machines having eight feeds, due to the closeness of the feeds the selecting means was only provided at alternate feeds so that in forming design stitch patterns requiring needle selection in each course of the fabric, such as the so-called two thread lace designs, the feeds without selecting means were idled during the formation of the portions of the stocking fabrics having the lace designs. This resulted in the loss of some of the fabric producing potential for which the eight-feed machine was specifically designed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly summarized the invention resides in the provision of jack selecting means at each feed of a multi-feed circular knitting machine, the jack selecting means comprising an assembly having a first group of selector levers for selectively acting on selector butts of the jacks at one feed of a pair of feeds of the machine, a second group of selector levers for selectively acting on the selector butts of the jacks at the other feed of the pair, a trick drum having a butt pattern for operating the group of the selector levers of each feed of the pair, means for operating the trick drum associated with each feed of the pair, common means for actuating the operating means for the trick drums of both feeds of the pair and means for activating and inactivating the common means which is in part controlled by means associated with the trick drum at one of the pair of feeds and in part controlled by means associated with a main pattern means of the machine. The assembly also includes a control drum for individually moving the selector levers of the groups associated with both feeds of the pair between active positions for operation by the trick drums and inactive positions, and operating means for the control drum which is controlled by the main pattern means of the machine. The assembly is designed to permit its ready removal from and replacement in the machine without requiring disconnection and reconnection with the controlling means for the assembly associated with the main pattern means and the trick and control drums are provided with releasable connections with permit their ready removal from and replacement in the assembly when the assembly is in operating position or removed from the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is plan view of a portion of a multi-feed circular knitting machine having needle selecting mechanism according to the instant invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of the arrow 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view with parts in cross section taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism of FIG. 5 taken in the direction of the arrow 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 10l0 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a view on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of the arrow 11 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a view on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of the arrow 12 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows l3- 13 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is a view on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of the arrow 14 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 15 is a view on an enlarged scale looking in the direction of the arrow 15 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings there is shown a portion of a multi-t'eed circular knitting machine including a frame member 20, a rotatable cylinder 21 having slots 22 for slidably mounting a circle of needles indicated diagrammatically at 25, sinkers 26 cooperating with the needles and eight knitting stations or feeds indicated diagrammatically at l to 8 inclusive in FIG. 1. Each of the feeds are provided with yarn fingers for feeding yarns to the needles and sinkers and cams (not shown) for operating the needles and sinkers in a conventional manner in forming the yams into courses of tubular fabrics such as ladies stockings. Also slidably mounted in each slot 22 in the cylinder 21 is a selector jack 27 which is adapted to be selectively controlled by selector devices 30 to 37, inclusive, to select the needles 25 for operation by the operating cams at each of the feeds 1 to 8 in forming design stitch patterns in the courses of the tubular fabrics. The jacks 27 are provided with selector butts 28 at a plurality of butt levels which are acted on by the selector devices 30 to 37 in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The selector devices are arranged in pairs in common units or assemblies 38 to 41, with the selector devices 30 and 31 of respectively. Inasmuch as the pairs of selector devices of the several units are substantially identical in both structure and operation only the selector devices 30 and 31 of the unit will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the selector device 30 of the unit 38 includes a stack of selector levers 42 mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 43 between separator plates 44 of a comb device 45. The selector device 31 of the unit 38 includes a stack of selector levers 46 mounted for pivotal movement on a shaft 47 between the separator plates 44 of the comb device 45. The separator plates of the comb device, which are held in spaced relationship by lead blocks, are

- mounted on the shafts 43 and 47 and support rods 48, the

shafts and support rods being mounted in fixed positions in upper and lower plate members 49 and 50, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5. The upper and lower plate members 49 and 50 are secured by screws 51 to a bracket 52 which is releasably secured by screws 53 to a housing 54 carried on the frame member 20 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5).

The selector levers 42, which are arranged in alternation with the selector levers 46, each have one arm 55 with a first or acammed nose portion 56 (FIGS. 6 and 8) for engagement with butts 28 in one of the butt levels on the jacks 27 and a second nose portion 57 adapted to read a trick butt pattern on a trick drum 58 arranged to move-the selector and cammed nose portion thereof into and out of engagement with the butts on the jacks. A third nose portion 59 on the selector lever 42 is adapted to read a butt pattern ona second trick drum 60 arranged to individually move the selector levers 42 between active positions in'which they are operated by the trick drum 58 and inactive positions generally in the same manner in which the selector levers 20 are operated by the control drum 97 as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,487, issued Apr. 19, 1966. Springs 61 connected between hook portions 62 and63 of the selector levers 42 and separator plates 44 of the comb device 37 respectively, nonnally tend to bias the selector levers and the cammed nose portions 56 thereof toward engagement with the butts on the jacks 27, this position of the selector levers beingdetermined by engagement of stop surfaces 64 thereon and a stop plate 65 (FIG. 8). v

. Opposite ends of the stop plate 65 are slidably carried in elongated slots 66 in the upper and lower plate members 49 and 50, respectively, between the stop surfaces 64 on the selector levers 42 and a low surface 70 of a control member 71 (FIG. 9). The control member 71 has end gudgeons 72 mounted for rotation in elongated slots 75 in the upper and lower plate members 49 and 50 between stop screws 76 adjustably carried in the plate members. The stop plate 65, which is biased toward the control member by a spring 77 connected between the lower plate member 50 and the lower end of this stop plate (FIG. 8) and a spring similarly connected between the upper plate member 49 and the upper end of the stop plate, is normally positioned by the low surface 70, when the control member is in the position of FIG. 8, to activate the selector levers 42 to read the butt pattern on the trick drums 58 and 60. On the other hand the stop plate 65 is adapted to be positioned by a high surface 80 of the control member 71, when the control member is rotated counterclockwise by a handle 79 fromits position of FIG. 8, to inactivate the selector levers 42 with respect to the trick drums 58 and 60 and the jacks 27. i

Y The selector levers 46, similarly to the selector levers 42,

are each provided with a first or cammed nose portion 81 (FIGS. 6 and 7) for engagement with butts 28 in one of the butt levels on the jacks 27, and a second nose portion 82 for reading a trick butt pattern on a trick drum 85-arranged to move the selector levers 46 and the cammed nose portions thereon into and out of engagement with the butts on the jacks. A third nose portion 86 on each selector lever 46 is adapted to read a butt pattern on the trick drum 60 arranged to individually move it between an active position for reading engagement with the butt pattern on the trick drum 85 and an inactive position. Springs 87 connected between hook portions 90 and 91 of the selector levers and separator plates 46 and 44, respectively, (FIG. 7) nonnally tend to bias the selector levers 46 and cammed nose portions 81 thereof toward engagement with the butts on the jacks this position of the selector levers being detemiined by engagement of stop surfaces92 thereof and a stop plate 95 (FIG. 7). Similarly to the stop plate 65, opposite ends of the stop plate 95 are slidably carried in elongated slots 94 in the upper and lower plate members (FIG. 9) between the stop surfaces 92 on the selector levers 46 and a low surface 96 of a control member 97 when in the position of FIG. 7 to activate the selector levers 46 to read the butt patterns on the trick drums 60 and 85. The control member 97 is provided with end gudgeons 98 mounted for rotation in elongated slots 99 (FIG. 9) in the upper and lower plate members between the stop plate 95 and stop screws 103 adjustably carried in the plate members. The stop plate 95 is moved to inactivate the selector levers 46 with respect to the trick drums 60 and 85 and the jacks 27 by a high surface 100 on the control member 97 when the latter is rotated clockwise from its position of FIG. 7 by a handle 104 on the control member.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 the trick drum 60 is provided with slots 101 for identical upper and lower butted tricks or plates 102 each having a lower projection 105, a semicircular notch 106 in the upper end thereof and a-hook-like portion 107 extending inwardly from the inner edge of the trick adjacent the upper end thereof. When assembled in the trick drum the lower projection on the lower trick interfits in an annular groove 110 in a lower flange 111 of the trick drum 60 and the hook-like portion 107 interfits in a groove 112 formed in the trick drum. The lower projection on the upper trick interfits the notch 106 in the lower trick and the hook-- like portion of the upper trick interfits in a groove l15'in the upper end of the trick drum. A cap member 116 on the upper end of the trick drum is provided with an annular ridge 1 17 for engaging the notches 106 in, the upper ends of the upper tricks. The cap member 116 is held in releasable engagement with the upper ends of the trick drum and tricks to retain the tricks in their assembled positions by means hereinafter set forth and the cap member is axially movable to permit ready removal of the tricks from and replacement of the tricks in the trick drum.

The trick drum 60 is carried on an enlarged portion 119 of a shaft 120 supported on an enlarged head 121 of a member 122 having a depending shaft portion 125 mounted for rotation in the lower plate member 50. The lower end of the shaft 120 is provided with a socket 126 for releasable engagement with a plug 127 projecting from the head 121 to center the shaft 120 and trick drum 60 relative to the head. A pin 130 carried in the head 121 in releasable engagement with a radially extending slot 131 in the flange 1 l l of the trick drum causes the trick drum and shaft 120 to rotate with the member 122 when the latter is rotated by means and in the manner hereinafter set forth. An upper reduced portion 132 of the shaft 120 carries a sleeve 135 having an upper bullet-like end 136 for engagement in a socket 137 in the upper plate member 49. The

sleeve 135 is mounted in a bore 140 of a sleeve-like portion 141 depending from the cap member 116 and mounted for axially sliding movement in the bore in the trick drum 60 in which the portion 119 of the shaft 120 is carried. A compression spring 142, mounted on the reduced portion 132 of the shaft 120 between the lower end of the sleeve 135 and the lower end of the sleeve portion 141 of the cap member 116, normally tends to bias the cap member 116 axially into releasable engagement with the upper end of the trick drum and the upper ends of the upper tricks 102 and to bias the sleeve 135 axially to maintain the bulletlike end 136 of the sleeve 135 in releasable engagement with the socket 137. With this arrangement the spring 142 also permits axial movement of the trick drum 60 to release it from the plug 127 and pin 130 in the head 121 of the member 122 when the trick drum is to be removed from the unit 38. A pin 145 mounted in and extending transversely from the portion 132 of the shaft 120 through aligned opposed elongated slots 146 and 147 in the sleeve 135 and sleeve portion 141 of the cap member 116, respectively, limits axial movement of the sleeve '135 under the influence of spring 142 when the trick drum is removed from the assembly 38 and limits the axial movement of the cap member 116 when the cap member is moved from engagement with the trick drum 60 and tricks 102 for removal and replacement of the tricks as hereinbefore set forth.

The trick drums 58 and 85, which are identical in structure to the trick drum 60, are provided with means for releasably connecting the upper ends thereof to sockets similar to the socket 137 in the upper plate member 49. The lower ends of the trick drums 58 and 85 are also releasably connected to enlarged heads 150 and 151 of members 152 and 155, respectively (FIG. by means not shown herein but which is similar to that provided to connect the trick drum to the head 121 of member 122 hereinbefore set forth. Members 152 and 155 are provided with depending shaft portions 156 and 157, respectively, which are mounted for rotation in the lower plate member 50. Member 152 and trick drum 58 and member 155 and trick drum 85 are adapted to be rotated by means and in the manner hereinafter described.

The member 122 and trick drum 60 are adapted to be indexed in steps, under the control of a brake member 159 associated with the head 121 of member 122, by means including a ratchet 160 which is mounted on and connected by a key 161 to the shaft portion 125 at the underside of the lower plate member 50 (FIG. 5) and a pawl 162 pivotally mounted on one arm 165 of a lever 166 (FIG. 3) which in turn is mounted for oscillating movement on the shaft portion 125 between the ratchet and a collar 167 secured thereto. A spring 170 connected between the pawl 162 and the lever 166 normally tends to bias the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 160. A second arm 171 of the lever 166 is pivotally connected by a link 172 to a lever 175 pivoted on the shaft portion 157 of the member 155. A roller type follower 176 on the lever 175 is adapted to cooperate with a cam block 177 on a ring member 180 (FIGS. 3, 5 and secured to the cylinder 21 for rotation therewith, to operate the levers 175 and 166 and the pawl 162 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to advance the ratchet 160 and trick drum 60 in a single tooth step during a single rotation of the cylinder 21. A spring 178 connected between the lever 175 and a pin 179 fixed in the lower surface of the lower plate member 50 normally tends to bias the levers 175 and 166 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to reset the pawl 162 for its trick drum indexing movements.

The levers 175, 166 and pawl 162 are adapted to be inactivated at times to idle the member 122 and trick drum 60 and activated at other times to permit indexing movements of the trick drum to control the active and inactive positions of the selector levers 42 and 46. For this purpose the lever 175 is provided with a tail portion 182 for engagement with a first arresting surface 185 formed on one arm 186 of a latch lever 187 when the lever 175 is moved to the end of its indexing movement by the cam block 177. The latch lever 187, which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 188 secured by screws 190 to the underside of the lower plate member 50, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 15, has a second arresting surface 191 adapted to be engaged by the tail portion 182 to limit the movement of the levers 175 and 166 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, to reset the pawl 162 for an indexing movement. A second arm 192 of the latch lever 187 carries an adjustable stop screw 195 for engagement with an L-shaped bracket 196 secured by screws 197 to a control bar 200 (FIG. 15). The control bar 200 is one of a group of a number of groups of similar control bars provided in the machine for controlling various operating functions of the machine (FIGS. 3, 4 and 15), the control bars being operated by pattern levers, one of which is shown at 201 in FIG. 15, from the main cam drum 202 of the machine, see also FIG. 1. A spring 205 connected between the free end of the arm 186 of the latch lever 187 and the lower plate member 50 normally tends to bias the latch lever to its position of FIG. 15 in which the tail portion 182 of lever 175 is arrested by the first arresting surface 185 on the latch lever to inactivate the levers 175 and 166 at the end of their indexing movement by the cam block 177 when the control bar is in its non-operating position of FIG. 3. When the levers 175, 166 are to be activated to index the trick drum 60 a cam 206, which is one of a row similar cams on the cam drum 202, operates the pattern lever 201 to raise the control rod 200 to turn the latch lever 187 to disengage the surface 185 from the tail portion 182 thereby permitting the lever 175 to move clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, to position the follower 176 in the path of the cam block 177 on the ring member 180 and move the levers 175, 166 to the reset position determined by the second arresting surface 191 on the latch lever. The levers 175, 166 are then moved through trick drum indexing movement by the cam block 177.

The member 152 and trick drum 58 are adapted to be indexed in steps under the control of a brake member 207 associated with the head of member 152 by means including a ratchet 210 mounted on the shaft portion 156 and connected thereto by a key 211 and a pawl 212 (FIGS. 3, l3 and 14). The member and trick drum 85 are adapted to be indexed in steps under the control of a brake member 215 associated with the head 151 of member 155 by means including a ratchet 216 mounted on and connected by a key 218 (FIG. 10) to the shaft portion 157 and a pawl 217 (FIG. 3). The pawls 212 and 217 are pivotally mounted on studs 220 carried in a block 221 mounted for sliding movement in a recess 222 formed in a underside of the lower plate member 50 between the axial centers of the members 152 and 155 (FIGS. 3 and 14). Plates 225, secured by screws 226 to the underside of the lower plate member 50 for engagement in grooves 227 in the side edges of the block 221 retain the block in the recess 222. A compression spring 230 between and seated in facing openings in the pawls 212 and 217 tends to bias the pawls into engagement with their associated ratchets. A roller follower 231, rotatably carried on one end of the block 221, is adapted to follow a cam track 232 on the ring member 180, the cam track having opposed high portions, one of which is shown at 235 in FIG. 3, for moving the block and pawls 212 and 217 in one direction to index the ratchets 210 and 216 and the trick drums 58 and 85 associated therewith in two single tooth steps during each rotation of the ring member and cylinder 21 and opposed low portions one of which is shown at 236 in FIG. 3 for moving the block and pawls in the opposite or resetting direction following each indexing movement thereof. Compression springs 237 between the inner end of the recess 222 and the adjacent end of the block 221 (FIG. 3) act to bias the block and follower 231 thereon toward the cam track 232.

The block 221 is adapted to be arrested at the end of its indexing movement, determined by one of the high portions 235 of the cam track, to inactivate the pawls 212 and 217 when the trick drums 58 and 85 are to be idled and the block is released to follow the cam track to operate the pawls when the trick drums are to indexed. For this purpose there is provided a latch member 240 slidably mounted in a recess 241 fon'ned in the underside of the lower plate member for movement into and out of latching engagement with an end surface 242 of the block 221 at one side of the follower 231. The latch member 240 which is retained in the recess 241 by one of the plates 225, as shown in FIG. 13, carries a depending pin 245 for engagement in a notch 246 in the free end of one arm 247 of a lever 250 pivotally mounted on the shaft portion 156 of the member 152 between the ratchet 210 and a collar 251 secured to the shaft portion (FIGS. 3, 13 and 14).

A second am 252 of the lever 250 adjustably carries a threaded member 255 having a head portion 256 for engagement with a cam block 257 on one of the control bars, hereinbefore referred to, indicated at 258 (FIGS. 3 and 12). A spring 260 connected between the arm 247 of the lever 250 and a pin 261 carried in the underside of the lower plate member 50 normally tends to move the latch member 240 into latching engagement with the block 221 and to hold the threaded member 255 in engagement with the cam block 257 on the control bar 258. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14 the latch member 240 is in its position to arrest the block 221 to inactivate the pawls 212 and 217, this position of the block being determined by engagement of the member 255 on the lever 250 with the cam block 257 on the control bar 258 when the control bar is in its lowered inactive position of FIG. 12. When the block 221 and pawls 212, 217 thereon are to be activated to index the trick drums 58 and 85, a cam similar to the cam 206 on the cam drum 202 is moved to operate the pattern lever 201 associated with the control bar 258 to raise it and cam block 257 thereon thereby turning the lever 250 clockwise from the position of FIG; 3 to move the latch member 240 from latching engagement with the block 221.

In practice only portions of rotative cycles of the trick drums 58 and 85 may be required at times in selecting the jacks for certain of the design patterns to be formed and at other times a plurality of complete rotative cycles of the trick drums may be required to form others of the design patterns. In each instance the trick butt pattern for each design pattern starts at the same point on the trick drum and where the design 'pattem requires only portions of the rotative cycles of the'trick drums they must always be returned to the starting point to complete the rotative cycles for the next selecting cycle. In order to time the starting point of each of the rotative cycles of the trick drums, the lever 250 after it is moved clockwise by the control bar 258 to disengage the latch member 240 from the block 221 as 'hereinbefore set forth, is

adapted to be temporarily arrested in the clockwise position independently of the control bar. For this purpose the arm 252 of the lever 250 is adapted to be engaged by a pin 262 carried in the free end of one arm 265 of a lever 266 secured to lower end of a shaft 267 pivotally mounted in the lower plate member 50 (FIGS. 3 and 4). A pawl 270 secured to the upper end of the shaft 267 above the lower plate member is adapted toride on the high outer periphery of a disc'27l carried on andconnected by a pin272 to the head 150 of the member 151 for rotation therewith (FIGS. 4 and 13). The pin 272, which is fixed in the head 150, connects the member 152 to the. trick drum 58 in the same manner that pin 130 connects member 122 tothe trick drum 60. Thedisc 271 is provided with a timing notch 275 at a point corresponding to the starting point of the trick butt patterns on the trick drum 58. A spring 276 connected between the free end of a second arm 277 of the lever 266 and a pin 280 depending from the underside of the lower plate member 50 normally tends to turn the lever 266 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 and to turn the pawl 270 clockwise toward the disc 271 as viewed in FIG. 4.

When the latch member 240 is in the position of FIGS. 3 and 14 to inactivate the block 221 and pawls 212, 217 to idle the trick drums 58 and 85 as hereinbefore set forth, the nose of pawl 270 is in the timing notch 275 in the disc 271 to position the lever 266 and pin 262 relative to the arm 252 of the lever 250, as shown in FIG. 3. Thereafter, when the trick drums are to be operated a cam on the cam drum is moved beneath the nose of the pattern lever 201 to raise the control bar 258 to turn lever 250 clockwise from its position of FIG. 3 to disengage the latch member 240 from the block 221. This movement of the latchmember permits the block and pawls 212 and 217 to be operated through indexing movements by the' cam track 232. During the first indexing movement of the trick drums by the pawls 212 and 217the pawl 270 rides out of the notch 275 to the outer periphery of the disc 271 to turn the lever 266 and pin 262, clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 into positions to hold the lever 250 in its latch member disengaging position during subsequent indexing movements of the trick drums. When the trick drums are again to be idled following a single rotative cycle or a plurality of rotative cycles thereof, the cam on the cam drum is moved out of engagement with the pattern lever to permit the return of the control bar 258 to its lowered position of FIG. 12. At this time the lever 266 remains in its arresting position to hold the lever 250 and maintain latchmember 240 in its disengaged position to permit continued operation of the trick drums by the pawls until the nose of the pawl 270 again falls into the timing notch 275 in the disc '27]. This movement of the pawl into the timing notch 275 moves the'lever 266. from its arresting position thereby again permitting movement of the latch member 240 by the lever 250 into latching engagement with the block 221 to idlethe pawls and trick drums.

It will be understood that the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention disclosed.

I claim: a I

1. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder with slots for slidably mounting a circular series of needles adapted to knit courses at each of said feeds in forming tubular fabrics, pattern jacks in said slots in said cylinder having selector butts at a plurality of levels, and pattern means for acting on the selector butts on said pattern jacks to select the needles for operation in forming design stitches in the courses knitted at said feeds, said'pattem means comprising an assembly having a'first group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at one feed of a pair of feeds of said machine, a second group of selectors for acting onthe selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at the other feed of said pair, a first trick drum for operating said first group of selectors, a second trick drum for operatingsaid second group of selectors, indexing means for rotating said first and second trick drums, common means for actuating said indexing means for said first and second trick drums, means for operating said common means, means for activating said common means foroperation by said operating means to actuate said indexing means and for inactivating said common means to idle said indexing means, a cam drum for controlling operations of said machine, a latch member movable between a first position to activate said common means and a second position to inactivate said common means, means for moving said latch member between said first and second positions, first means for operating said moving means to move said latch member to said first position, second means for operating said moving means to move said latch member to said second position, arresting means for said moving means, and means for operating said arresting means for said moving means, and means for operating said arresting means between a first position to arrest said moving means after operation by said first means to maintain said latch member in said first position and a second position to permit operation of said moving means by said second means to move said latch member to said second position.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which said means for operating said arresting means between said first and second positions includes a disc rotatable with one of said trick drums, said disc having a high surface for operating said arresting means to said first position and a timing notch for controlling the operation of said arresting means to said second position.

3. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder with slots for slidably mounting a circular series of needles adapted to knit courses at each of said feeds in forming tubular fabrics, pattern jacks in said slots in said cylinder having selector butts at a plurality of levels, and pattern means for acting on the selector butts on said pattern jacks to select the needles for operation in forming design stitches in the courses knitted at said feeds, said pattern means comprising an assembly having a first group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at one feed of a pair of feeds of said machine, a second group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at the other feed of said pair, a first trick drum for operating said first group of selectors, a second trick drum for operating said second group of selectors, a single control drum for individually moving said selector levers of said first and second groups between active positions in which said selector levers are operated by said first and second trick drums in inactive positions, indexing means for rotating said first and second trick drums and said single control drum, means including a lever and a cam on said cylinder for operating said indexing means for said control drum, means including a latch membermovable between a first position to activate said lever for operation by said cam and a second position to inactivate said lever, and means for moving said latch member to said first and second positions.

4. A machine according to claim 3 in which said machine has a cam drum for controlling operations thereof, and said means for moving said latch member to said first and second positions includes means operated by said cam drum to move said latch member to said first position, and a spring for moving said latch member to said second position.

5. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder with slots for slidably mounting a circular series of needles adapted to knit courses at each of said feeds in forming tubular fabrics, pattern jacks in said slots in said cylinder having selector butts at a plurality of levels, and pattern means for acting on the selector butts on said pattern jacks to select the needles for operation in forming design stitches in the courses knitted at said feeds, said pattern means comprising an assembly including upper and lower plate members and having a first group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at one feed of a pair of feeds of said machine, a second group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at the other feed of said pair, a first trick drum for operating said first group of selectors, a second trick drum for operating said second group of selectors, a single control drum for individually moving said selector levers of said first and second groups between active positions in which said selector levers are operated by said first and second trick drums and inactive positions, indexing means for said first and second trick drums and said control drum which includes a member rotatably mounted in said lower plate member, cooperating means on each said rotatably mounted member and associated drum for releasably connecting the lower end of said drum to said rotatably mounted member, means at the upper end of each of said drums for releasable engagement in sockets in said upper plate member, common means for actuating said indexing means for said first and second trick drums, means for operating said common means, and means for activating said common means for operation by said operating means to actuate said indexing means and for inactivating said common means to idle said indexing means.

IF l 

1. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder with slots for slidably mounting a circular series of needles adapted to knit courses at each of said feeds in forming tubular fabrics, pattern jacks in said slots in said cylinder having selector butts at a plurality of levels, and pattern means for acting on the selector butts on said pattern jacks to select the needles for operation in forming design stitches in the courses knitted at said feeds, said pattern means comprising an assembly having a first group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at one feed of a pair of feeds of said machine, a second group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at the other feed of said pair, a first trick drum for operating said first group of selectors, a second trick drum for operating said second group of selectors, indexing means for rotating said first and second trick drums, common means for actuating said indexing means for said first and second trick drums, means for operating said common means, means for activating said common means for operation by said operating means to actuate said indexing means and for inactivating said common means to idle said indexing means, a cam drum for controlling operations of said machine, a latch member movable between a first position to activate said common means and a second position to inactivate said common means, means for moving said latch member between said first and second positions, first means for operating said moving means to move said latch member to said first position, second means for operating said moving means to move said latch member to said second position, arresting means for said moving means, and means for operating said arresting means between a first position to arrest said moving means after operation by said first means to maintain said latch member in said first position and a second position to permit operation of said moving means by said second means to move said latch member to said second position.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 in which said means for operating said arresting means between said first and second positions includes a disc rotatable with one of said trick drums, said disc having a high surface for operating said arresting means to said first position and a timing notch for controlling the operation of said arresting means to said second position.
 3. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder with slots for slidably mounting a circular series of needles adapted to knit courses at each of said feeds in forming tubular fabrics, pattern jacks in said slots in said cylinder having selector butts at a plurality of levels, and pattern means for acting on the selector butts on said pattern jacks to select the needles for operation in forming design stitches in the courses knitted at said feeds, said pattern means comprising an assembly having a first group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at one feed of a pair of feeds of said machine, a second group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at the other feed of said pair, a first trick drum for operating said first group of selectors, a second trick drum for operating said second group of selectors, a single control drum for individUally moving said selector levers of said first and second groups between active positions in which said selector levers are operated by said first and second trick drums in inactive positions, indexing means for rotating said first and second trick drums and said single control drum, means including a lever and a cam on said cylinder for operating said indexing means for said control drum, means including a latch member movable between a first position to activate said lever for operation by said cam and a second position to inactivate said lever, and means for moving said latch member to said first and second positions.
 4. A machine according to claim 3 in which said machine has a cam drum for controlling operations thereof, and said means for moving said latch member to said first and second positions includes means operated by said cam drum to move said latch member to said first position, and a spring for moving said latch member to said second position.
 5. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder with slots for slidably mounting a circular series of needles adapted to knit courses at each of said feeds in forming tubular fabrics, pattern jacks in said slots in said cylinder having selector butts at a plurality of levels, and pattern means for acting on the selector butts on said pattern jacks to select the needles for operation in forming design stitches in the courses knitted at said feeds, said pattern means comprising an assembly including upper and lower plate members and having a first group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at one feed of a pair of feeds of said machine, a second group of selectors for acting on the selector butts on the jacks to select the needles for operation at the other feed of said pair, a first trick drum for operating said first group of selectors, a second trick drum for operating said second group of selectors, a single control drum for individually moving said selector levers of said first and second groups between active positions in which said selector levers are operated by said first and second trick drums and inactive positions, indexing means for said first and second trick drums and said control drum which includes a member rotatably mounted in said lower plate member, cooperating means on each said rotatably mounted member and associated drum for releasably connecting the lower end of said drum to said rotatably mounted member, means at the upper end of each of said drums for releasable engagement in sockets in said upper plate member, common means for actuating said indexing means for said first and second trick drums, means for operating said common means, and means for activating said common means for operation by said operating means to actuate said indexing means and for inactivating said common means to idle said indexing means. 